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Sheriff’s Office to pay for employees' degrees

Published: Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 7:27 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 7:27 p.m.

Lafourche Parish deputies will soon have a chance to get an associate degree in criminal justice from Fletcher Technical Community College on the Sheriff’s Office’s dime because of an agreement announced Thursday.

Under the system, the Sheriff’s Office will pay tuition and fees for any employee who keeps a “C” average or better, starting in 2013.

“Our agency puts a strong emphasis on education,” Sheriff Craig Webre said in a news release. “We are excited about our new partnership with Fletcher, and I believe it will help lead to an even higher level of public service.”

Webre said he hopes the agreement will lead to a team that is more up to date on cutting-edge law enforcement technology and techniques.

Travis Lavigne, Fletcher’s chancellor, said the program will be a boon to the school’s instructors too.

“You will have people in the classroom who aren’t just students studying it but are actually out there working those shifts day by day,” Lavigne said. “They will be able to bring real-life situations to the classroom, to the instructors and to the other students.”

Lavigne said criminal justice is a popular program at the school, and he expects the agreement to grow even further.

He said the school has ample space to house more students. The new Schriever campus unveiled this year has more than doubled Fletcher’s square footage.

Lavigne said the school will hire additional adjunct faculty to meet the new demand.

“This is exactly the mission of our school,” Lavigne said. “This is a community need, and it’s our job to fulfill it.”

Staff Writer Matthew Albright can be reached at 448-7635 or at matthew.albright@dailycomet.com.

<p>Lafourche Parish deputies will soon have a chance to get an associate degree in criminal justice from Fletcher Technical Community College on the Sheriff's Office's dime because of an agreement announced Thursday.</p><p>Under the system, the Sheriff's Office will pay tuition and fees for any employee who keeps a “C” average or better, starting in 2013. </p><p>“Our agency puts a strong emphasis on education,” Sheriff Craig Webre said in a news release. “We are excited about our new partnership with Fletcher, and I believe it will help lead to an even higher level of public service.”</p><p>Webre said he hopes the agreement will lead to a team that is more up to date on cutting-edge law enforcement technology and techniques. </p><p>Travis Lavigne, Fletcher's chancellor, said the program will be a boon to the school's instructors too.</p><p>“You will have people in the classroom who aren't just students studying it but are actually out there working those shifts day by day,” Lavigne said. “They will be able to bring real-life situations to the classroom, to the instructors and to the other students.”</p><p>Lavigne said criminal justice is a popular program at the school, and he expects the agreement to grow even further. </p><p>He said the school has ample space to house more students. The new Schriever campus unveiled this year has more than doubled Fletcher's square footage.</p><p>Lavigne said the school will hire additional adjunct faculty to meet the new demand.</p><p>“This is exactly the mission of our school,” Lavigne said. “This is a community need, and it's our job to fulfill it.”</p><p>Staff Writer Matthew Albright can be reached at 448-7635 or at matthew.albright@dailycomet.com.</p>